humor
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On Language
Dirty Words
Throwing f-bombs may be offensive to some people, but it’s also one of the greatest mental health regimens ever devised.
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Book People
All the Bikes We Cannot See
A record number of injuries and disqualifications in this year’s Tour de France is being blamed on addictions to contemporary fiction.
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Explainers
A Recipe for Disasters
Calculating the probable dates for very bad things—a catastrophic solar megastorm; Seattle destroyed by earthquake—that are likely to occur.
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Idiot Box
Brush With Greatness
The TV trope where one character sees another character naked allows audiences to be pervy without taking responsibility. Only The Simpsons gets it right.
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Opinions
What Think-Piece Writers Get Wrong About Lobotomies
The web is full of pundits looking to turn every topic into think-bait. One writer commits himself to thinking much, much deeper.
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Personal Histories
The Limousine
Prom is a big night for many teenagers, full of firsts. First corsage. First big dance. Never mind first time in a limo—with disastrous results.
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Mad Women
My Date With Don Draper
The TV series Mad Men is set to begin its final season. Finally we’ll know how many women—and how much Proust—it takes to make Don Draper happy.
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Spoofs & Satire
Death Means No Reversible Error
Whenever lethal injection drugs are unavailable, Utah will allow death-row prisoners to choose death by firing squad, citing it as the most “humane” option.
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Beliebe in Yourself
Big Time
When viral stardom strikes, your entire future is suddenly within reach—would you capture it or just let it slip?
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Spoofs & Satire
HBO’s Treme Corners You at a Party
When art is staring you in the face, you can’t look away.
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All Media Considered
The World According to Brian Williams
A look back at the dethroned NBC Nightly News anchor’s storied history, in his own words.
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Guides
The Apocalypse Will Be Televised
When the world ends, CNN won’t be the only channel with a doomsday video ready for broadcast.